Frozen Fantasy: NHL Goes Young

Steak is best served medium-rare. But is your fantasy hockey squad?

Yes. And then some.

Today's NHL is actually served up rare. Really rare. Teenagers are taking over the NHL and fantasy hockey.

It's fun to watch. And it's smart to have them on your fantasy squad.

Today's youngsters are already among the league's best. And 25-year olds are just that. Old.

It's a stark contrast to just a few years ago when players 25-27 were the tastiest guys on any fantasy plate. And less than a decade ago, guys 27-32 were the targets.

That seems like a century ago.

Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi – 2016's top-three picks – found twine in their debut games. Cripes, Matthews did something no other NHL player has EVER done. Well done, kid.

And Connor McDavid is about to lead the league in scoring. He turns 20 on Jan. 13.

I used to avoid rookies and pimple-faced babes like the plague on draft day. And I told you to do the same.

Not any more.

I already own Auston Matthews. And Mikhail Sergachev, William Nylander and Robby Fabbri.

So should you.

Now let's take a look at who caught my eye this week.

Brandon Carlo, D, Boston (1 percent Yahoo owned) - It was trial by fire Thursday night for this big, mobile defender. Carlo got hung out to dry early on a couple scores. But the 19-year-old got stronger as the game went on and finished with his first NHL point and a plus-5 rating in 17:48. There will be speed wobbles and plenty of them. But Carlo has a great stick and skates on the first pairing (you read that right). Keep him in sight.

Tobias Enstrom, D, Winnipeg (2 percent ) - Enstrom's offense was abysmal last year. He focused on shot suppression, which is a real strength in his game. But dude – you can't just stop shots; you gotta take some, too. Enstrom got involved in the attack Thursday night against the Canes and delivered two assists, including one of the power play. He's not the blueliner he was when he had back-to-back 50-plus point seasons. But he could be a 38-40 point guy. I'd take that.

Nick Foligno, LW/RW, Columbus (13 percent ) - Foligno went from god to goat last season faster than it takes to snap a selfie. His production dropped in half and he hung like an anchor on a lot of fantasy teams. Including mine. Foligno isn't a 70-plus point guy, but he's not a 37-point guy, either. So, look for him to settle somewhere in the middle – that's 50-55 points with 50 PIM and at least 170 hits. Stash him now if you have the roster spot.

Michael Hutchinson, G, Winnipeg (10 percent ) - Get him. NOW. The Jets banished Ondrej Pavelec to Churchill to drive a tundra truck for tourists and gave the keys to Hutch and Connor Hellebuyck. The latter is the better tender, but he has just 26 starts prior to this season. Hutchinson has finally found some consistency and that means a timeshare may be in order. Put Jonathan Quick on the IR and pick this guy up. I did.

Alex Killorn, C, Tampa Bay (15 percent ) - You only need to know these three little things. 1. The Bolts brought in a special teams guru in the offseason to improve their awful power play. 2. Killorn's power-play ice time is on the rise. And 3, Killorn is available in 85 percent of Yahoo leagues. Killorn's skill, smarts and second-line gig make him a cheap and easy waiver grab. So, what's stopping you?

Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto (22 percent ) - Marner was the best Leaf on the ice in the first period of Wednesday's game, even with Auston Matthews draining two snipes. Marner had six shots against the Sens, but no points to show. But he was noticeable every time he was on the ice. In a really good way. Marner is to Matthews as Patrick Kane is to Jonathan Toews. The Leafs really do have something special here. Finally.

Patrick Maroon, LW, Edmonton (5 percent ) - Stash him now. Maroon will step into the role of heavy for Connor McDavid when Milan Lucic fails. Remember – boy burgundy had 14 points in 16 points in that role after he arrived from the Quacks last season. It's only a matter of time.

Alexander Wennberg, C, Columbus (4 percent ) - Wennberg is a stud in the making. He's an excellent 200-foot player with size and skill. In fact, his play without the puck is probably the best part of his game. But he's more than a defensive specialist. Last season, Wennberg doubled his production from his rookie year and is poised to take another leap, especially with Ryan Johansen gone. Stop doubting this – where else can you get a first-line center with his skillset? Oh yeah – in 96 percent of Yahoo leagues. Too many people are sleeping on this guy.

Back to the kids.

Youth was served by Team North America's entry at the recent World Cup of Hockey. That team was hot.

The NHL is getting younger and younger. There are more than 20 teenagers in the league who are younger than Connor McDavid (he turns 20 until mid-January).

Remarkably, there are only 28 NHL players older than 35 this season. Wow.

I'm taking Laine and the fact he can't legally drink, even in Canada. And not Jaromir Jagr and his walker.

Cripes, Jagr could be Laine's daddy. Gah.

Until next week.